VIETNAM TODAY

Traffic fines will be doubled and police will have greater powers to impound vehicles in a move to help keep traffic order during Tet.

Up to 10 people died during the current cold spell in Vietnam, including seven in the central region.

This year’s record prolonged drought - setting a century record - could leave Vietnam’s crops high and dry.

South Korean navy commandos stormed a ship hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, rescuing all the crew and killing eight pirates, according to military officials.

A Javan rhinoceros that was found dead in the Cat Tien National Park last April may have died of infection after being shot in its leg, the World Wildlife Fund said Thursday.

Forget eating the worm after downing your tequila - with these bottles of unusual wine produced in Vietnam, a tasty tipple comes with a far more potent bite.

Vietnam has set a goal to build schools to provide education for more ethnic minority children.

Despite possible power shortages and even blackouts this year, Vietnam will give priority to the steel and cement industries.

The UN's World Meteorological Organisation said Thursday that 2010 was the warmest year on record.

Keeping inflation below 7% set by the NA will be a challenge for in 2011, but the country will do what it can to meet this goal.

A conference was held in Hanoi on January 20 by the Vietnam National Institution of Nutrition and the Ministry of Health to review the 2010 activities on health and nutrition and their further implementation in 2011.

The male pop group Backstreet Boys will perform in Vietnam in March, following their tour to Latin America.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received special envoys Thongloun Sisoulith of Lao Party General Secretary and President Choummaly Sayasone, and Wang Jiarui of Chinese Party General Secretary and President Hu Jintao at separate meetings in Hanoi on January 20.

Just 5% of mobile subscribers in Vietnam use 3G service, while most stick to 2G technology.

Google unveiled a surprise shakeup of its top management on Thursday, announcing that co-founder Larry Page would replace Eric Schmidt as chief executive of the Internet giant in April.

By 2020, Internet subscribers in rural areas will account for 30-40% of the national average density, according to a newly-approved project.

Vietnam currently sees more than 2,500 housing projects and new townships under construction, according to the Ministry of Construction.

Several Vietnam-based popular websites including Vietnamnet have recently been attacked by hackers, raising social concerns.

It is expected that the consumer price index for Hanoi in January will be 1.68% higher than it was in December.